March 21, 2011: All nonessential travel suspended

All of UC's nonessential travel to Japan — by faculty, staff and students — has been suspended, by order of the UC Office of the President.

Nathan Brostrom, executive vice president for Business Operations, announced the suspension in a March 19 e-mail to campus officers. 

"Only those researchers who have been requested by either the United States or Japanese government, with official documentation, and approval of their campus chancellor will be permitted to travel to Japan," he said.

The suspension came three days after UC announced that it was evacuating all of its students from Japan. Seven UC Davis students were among the contingent of 80 students who had been enrolled in UC education abroad programs in the earthquake-devastated nation.

On March 17, the UC Davis Education Abroad Center announced that it had canceled its spring program in Kyoto. The students in that program never departed for Japan.

The travel and program suspensions coincide with the U.S. State Department's travel warning for Japan. With such a warning in place, UC's travel insurance provider has suspended its coverage for Japan travel — except to help in the evacuation of UC affiliates who were already in Japan.

If a researcher goes there on essential business, he or she will have workers compenstation coverage, but not UC travel insurance.

In addition, the insurer is suspending its coverage for UC affiliates who are already in Japan, and who insist on staying, and is telling them that they will not be provided evacuation assistance at a later time.

"As conditions change, this policy will be reviewed and modified as necessary," Brostrom wrote.

Questions can be directed to Brostrom, (510) 987-9029 or nathan.brostrom@ucop.edu, or Grace Crickette, chief risk officer, (510) 987-9820 or grace.crickette@ucop.edu.

Earlier coverage: Study abroad called off

UC is evacuating all of its students from Japan, university officials announced late Wednesday (March 16). Seven UC Davis students are among the contingent of 80 UC students now enrolled in education abroad programs in the earthquake-devastated nation.

On March 17, the UC Davis Education Abroad Center announced that it had canceled its spring program in Kyoto. Two summer abroad programs scheduled to leave for Kyoto and Okazaki on June 25 remained on schedule.

In announcing the decision to evacuate UC students, Grace Crickette, chief risk officer for the UC system, cited “difficult-to-predict risks.” The country is reeling from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, as well as the subsequent radiation threat and continuing aftershocks.

“Conditions in Japan continue to present a variety of difficult-to-predict risks,” Crickette wrote in an e-mail. “In addition, the number of people leaving the affected areas and moving to Tokyo and Kyoto will place an additional burden on the Japanese infrastructure. With this in mind, I am writing to advise that we are proceeding with evacuation of all students from Japan.”

The evacuation decision followed a U.S. State Department travel warning urging Americans in Japan to leave and those considering going there to postpone their plans.

Within 24 hours of the magnitude 9.0 earthquake, UC officials had accounted for all 80 students enrolled in education programs in Japan, and determined that all were safe. Some were traveling outside Japan at the time.

The seven UC Davis students had been studying at five universities: Kejo, Osaka, Doshisha, International Christian and Meiji Gakuin. The latter two are closest to the areas of worst damage, about 200 miles from Sendai.

Zachary Frieders, associate director of UC Davis’ Education Abroad Center, said the seven students will work with UC's travel assistance provider to arrange evacuation plans. Meanwhile, students who were planning to depart for Japan for the spring quarter will enroll in classes on the Davis campus.

Canceling the spring program “is a significant decision that is based on thorough analysis and input of campus risk and safety experts, UC systemwide information, and U.S. State Department advisories,” Frieders said. “Our primary concern is the safety of students and faculty who would have traveled to Japan on this program. The fluid and rapidly changing nature of events in Japan present significant obstacles to ensuring their well-being.”

At least one UC Davis faculty member, Geoff Schladow, was traveling in Japan at the time of the quake. Schladow, director of the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center, reported that he and his family were fine.

Meanwhile, life is back to normal for UC Davis students, faculty and staff at the university’s Bodega Marine Laboratory, about half a mile from the Pacific Coast

The university closed the lab and surrounding tidal reserve lands after the quake, and alerted the 40 people who work and study there to stay away from the coast until the tsunami danger had passed.

Nita Puig-Alberts, administrative officer for the Bodega Marine Laboratory, said today (March 17) that the facility appears to have sustained no damage despite “unusual waves” that rolled into Bodega Harbor.

Faculty expertise on the disaster in Japan.

I-House announces fundraiser

International House Davis announced that it will host a potluck dinner on Wednesday, March 23, as a fundraiser for relief efforts in Japan. The community is invited: "Please bring dishes to share — and checks made out to 'International Red Cross,'" states an I-House news release.

"We plan to gather and share thoughts, prayers and hopes for our friends in Japan," said Elisabeth Sherwin, executive director of International House. "This is the kind of event that I-House is uniquely positioned to offer the community, so please join us. No formal program will be held, but we will gather in solidarity."

The potluck is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. The I-House is at 10 College Park, across from the university entrance at Russell Boulevard and Howard Way. For more information, call the I-House, (530) 753-5007.